Faulkner's debut Hand Built by Robots sold 24,740 in its first week back in 2007, reaching number three at the time. It eventually reached number one with sales of 29,451. Its peak week saw sales of 44,755 at Christmas, despite a chart position of 31.

His second album Rebuilt by Humans also entered at three in 2009 with sales of 30,343.

Album sales have seen a rapid decline in recent months, with the lowest chart-topping sales of the 21st century so far being for Emeli Sandé's Our Version of Events, which climbed back to the summit seven weeks ago with sales of just 13,430.

The average sales for number ones this century so far is 98,748, with the highest being Take That's Progress (518,601).

The eight lowest-selling number one albums of the 21st century up to now have all taken place in 2012. Newton Faulkner breaks the previous debut record set by Marina and the Diamonds, whose Electra Heart sold 21,358 ten weeks ago.

However, singles continue to sell well compared to the mid-2000s, with several recent number ones selling over 100,000 copies.